Banou is having a quiet afternoon when the eunuch come by the mansion asking for her presence in the Dowager. Banou expected the emperor to summon her to the palace but instead is the Dowager, in any case, she have nothing to say to them. She dress up and follow the eunuch into the palace. Wang MoMo is told to follow along. They sit in the carriage and plan out what to say if the Dowager ask.
After greeting the Dowager, Banou sit down with the Dowager and drink tea.
"So what happen to Lady Peng?"
"It is unfortunate fate of the young girl. I have done the best for her."
"I believe so. She is less than twenty. She hardly live a life of a child. Force to see the horror of life. Her father and brother made a mistake and the female members of their family have to pay the price for it."
"Is there any hope for her father and brother to return?"
"This is ... not our concern. We shall not be brother with it. What i want to hear from you is that the physician had verified ... what she had died off."
Banou let a sigh of relief that they are not suspecting that she is coving up the death of Lady Peng. Banou remain calm and look at the Dowager.
"As per the physician who came by every few days to check on Lady Peng before she pass away. She had difficulty in breathing and perspiring non-stop. The physician had prescribe the medication for her. We had bought whatever is needed. However that is too late. It was difficult to handle as i have small children in the mansion who doesn't understand what is going on. I only can handle it so much as a fellow noble lady. If you wish to blame her death then please blame it on me alone. Not my family."
Banou kneel down. The Dowager hurry to help her up.
"I am not blaming on you, Consort Princess. I am worry if there is a hidden nature of her death. If she died of ... sexual disease. I must ask the royal physicians to give the Emperor a thorough examination on his health. He had after all sleep with that girl so many times... this is worrisome."
Banou then understand that now the emperor is fearing for his life. At that point Banou wish that she can spin a lie and frighten that brother-in-law further for making them miserable.
"In that case, i will advise him to take a medical check up to access his health."
"I am sure that he is the son of heavens will over ride this difficult times."
"Yes, yes the ancestors will watch over him. I will advise him to stop all those unnecessary activities. Only making himself sick for no reason. Hee has been to morning court for the past three days! Laying in bed worrying for nothing... if only ... never mind. Since now he is emperor. He have to do what he needs to do. The crown prince is still young. He haven't seen the outside world yet."
"He is already thirteen. Isn't he supposed to start taking other subjects?"
"Yes i am asking the empress to arrange for other lessons. Learn to read and write. Understanding what the forefathers have done is important. But he doesn't know there rest. What is the point!"
Banou and the Dowager take a sip on the tea.
"Consort Princess, i may ask the crown prince to learn from Li Cheng to manage the vast army. Now i am not asking Li Cheng to give away his power to the crown prince but i want the crown prince to know that without the army support, this realm will not exist. Li Cheng is equally import as the emperor. I expect the emperor to know that Li Cheng is always his first line of defences and he cannot betray his brother for any reason. Thus the crown prince must understand this too. In further whoever is going to in-heir the power that Li Cheng have weld over the years will have to understand his duty as a subject. I suspect that the power will hand over to your eldest son. While Li Cheng son's are only just starting to grow up, they don't have the knowledge and the skill. While Li Nan... that boy is a XiongNu can never have any power within this realm."
Banou finally hear what the Dowager said. She is disappointed for Li Nan who work hard for Tang and believe in the equal system that one day he will be a commander of his own team. She look at Wang MoMo with her sad eyes and the lady feel her pain. She too like Li Nan who grows up as a Chinese citizen. Even he have the blood of XiongNu, he never betray his own family and country. He treated everyone will respect everywhere he goes.
That evening she return to the mansion. She sit down at the open library and stare at outside the velvet sky. Wang MoMo comes in with a warm pot and tea cups.
"Consort Princess, are you still bother with what the Dowager said?"
"More or less, yes Wang MoMo. Is it going to be hard for Li Nan to stand firmly in the Tang court?"
"I am afraid so. The men in court constantly remain themselves that XiongNu descendants are working within them. They are cautious and watchful of those children."
"But why? I mean everyone can accept other races and religion yet when cames to XiongNu it's that difficult."
"Consort Princess, for a long time, we have been battling with the XiongNu for lands and rights. XiongNu refuse to sit down with us to discuss, they choose to fight to the death. They see themselves taller and bigger built thus an advantage compare to us Chinese. They act like animals who scream and break through barriers. The women of XiongNu is the same. I believe you know better than i do."
"But my Li Nan never display those unreasonable character. He grows up with the Chinese. He learn the ways of a Chinese man. He believe that he is one of those Chinese man."
"I know. He did so well..."
Banou feels the unfair treatment for her son. She is not happy and doesn't know what to do for her son who believes in the fair equal system that the Chinese had built up. No manner how she will wait for her sons and husband to return. They can sit down to talk the future for them all.